She knew well that Zhao Linye was formidable—not only in his methods but even more so in his cunning.
Wielding a broadsword before him would end in a miserable fate for anyone.
So she didn't conceal her background. Everything she said was the truth, without a hint of falsehood.
"Miss Chen will make a fine doctor."
Zhao Linye glanced over, speaking ambiguously. His attitude didn't differ, and his gaze didn't size her up. It was like casually helping an old lady who had tripped on the roadside—a throwaway remark. At his position, he had seen too many women, all chasing fame or scheming for gain. Zhao Linye had long been immune.
Chen Zhuyue's heart skipped a beat, and her face paled two shades further. She knew this man hadn't taken an interest in her. His question about what she studied was merely a matter of courtesy.
Chan Gong staff—it sounded noble, but in reality, they were just the lowest-tier service workers.
The distance between her and Zhao Linye was still vast.
She couldn't reach him.
She said softly once more, "Thank you, Chairman Zhao."
Zhao Linye wasn't surprised that Chen Zhuyue recognized him. After all, entering Chan Gong came with proper training. Sister Chu was good at teaching, covering every aspect without omission.
"Mm."
He turned away, no longer speaking to Chen Zhuyue, and looked out at the rain.
"Chairman Zhao, what a misunderstanding this all was. I'll be on my way now. Please, Chairman Zhao, no need to see me off."
Boss Wang was a shrewd man. He quickly seized the moment to take his leave, then cast a thoughtful look at Chen Zhuyue.
Chen Zhuyue lowered her eyes, silent. But she knew—this was reality.
The cruelty of reality was something she, a young girl raised under her parents' protection, had never experienced before. But now, she had no choice but to face it.
Because even the weakest child must grow wings and face the storms outside alone.
"I'm off."
After finishing his cigarette, Zhao Linye stepped into the car.
Chen Zhuyue's gaze followed him as he left, and even after his car drove away, she still stared fixedly at the dark night, not withdrawing her eyes.
For a first meeting, she was fairly satisfied with her performance.
At least it was commendable.
In the game of hunting, the most elite hunters often appear in the form of prey.
If she wanted to pluck the laurel from the Moon Palace, she needed enough patience to wait for the man who was the prey to lower his head willingly.
And she must be the angler.
Chen Zhuyue took a deep breath. After reviewing everything that had happened tonight, she knew she couldn't afford to be impatient.
Entering Chan Gong—step one accomplished.
Getting close to Zhao Linye—that had only just begun.
Her path required steady, solid steps to see the light.
Watching the relentless rain for a while, Chen Zhuyue sighed and used a ride-hailing app on her phone. But it showed she was fifty-eighth in line—she'd have to wait a long time.
The black luxury car slid into the night, rain pelting against its body. Secretary Cheng drove, steady throughout. Occasionally, when oncoming headlights swept into the cabin, Secretary Cheng glanced up and saw the young man seated in the back.
His brows were lightly closed, fingers tapping a rhythm on his knee.
No music, no atmosphere—just a simple gesture revealing that something was on his mind.
"Sir, that girl just now… should we go back?"
Secretary Cheng asked, his peripheral vision sweeping the back seat. Zhao Linye's half-closed eyes opened: "No need."
Headlights split the darkness as the car surged forward into the night. Zhao Linye turned his head, watching the rain on the window for a moment, then suddenly said, "Go back."
In the auction brochure, there was her photo, her name, her introduction.
A girl from a small county town, studied veterinary medicine, switched to human medicine, diligent in her studies. That little face, bare of makeup, was already striking. No wonder that man surnamed Wang had taken a liking to her.
Young, innocent, naive to the ways of the world—like a sweet, clueless girl who had wandered into a pack of wolves. Without her knowing it, countless eyes had likely already fixed upon her.
Such innocence deserved protection, not to be tainted by this gray world.
Chen Zhuyue noticed that the car that had just left had returned.
Secretary Cheng got out: "Miss Chen, the rain is heavy. Where do you live? Sir instructed that we can give you a ride."
Chen Zhuyue instinctively looked out. Behind the privacy glass, she couldn't tell whether the man inside was looking at her or doing something else.
But her heart was racing.
The opportunity that had just slipped away had suddenly returned. She had to seize it.
Light spilled from her eyes—a pure, grateful light: "Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Secretary Cheng. I really can't get a ride, so I'll trouble you."
She bowed to Secretary Cheng, who sidestepped imperceptibly.
He only thought that this girl was quite composed.
Chen Zhuyue didn't dare sit in the back. She wanted the front passenger seat, but Secretary Cheng said, "Miss Chen, the Chairman requests that you sit in the back."
Chen Zhuyue's scalp tingled for an instant. She suppressed her wildly pounding heart with all her might, feeling her hands and feet tremble slightly.
But inside, she was ecstatic.
Her relationship with him had taken another step forward.
The atmosphere in the car was tense. Zhao Linye didn't speak, and Chen Zhuyue barely dared to breathe.
"Chairman Zhao, thank you very much."
After getting into the car, Chen Zhuyue sat obediently by the door, as if she didn't dare to get even a whiff of the man's presence on the other side.
But no matter how spacious the car was, it was still only a few feet across. From the moment she sat down, the choice was no longer hers.
"Address."
Zhao Linye asked. Chen Zhuyue let her tense body relax slightly and reported the address of her temporary rental apartment with a clear mind.
Coming from the county town to Shengjing, she had a plan for everything.
The preferences of those in power were hard to guess.
The affections of those in power were even harder to guess.
Chen Zhuyue slowly traced the character "fish" in her mind—she needed to be steady, and she needed to be patient.
When a man had been in power for too long, he was used to mind games, scheming, and a revolving door of beautiful women. He didn't lack women, nor wealth and status. The only thing he lacked was probably the sincerity he had lost long ago…
And what Chen Zhuyue needed to do was to perfect that sincerity to the extreme.
"Miss Chen, we've arrived."
The fifteen-minute drive passed quickly. Secretary Cheng stopped the car and turned around to announce. Zhao Linye opened his closed eyes and looked out at the somewhat rundown residential complex.
An old neighborhood—no security guard at the gate, no elevator, but the rent would be cheap.
However, it wouldn't be safe.
"Okay. Thank you, Chairman Zhao. Thank you, Secretary Cheng. Thank you both for driving me back."
Chen Zhuyue got out of the car and stood outside, sincerely thanking the people inside.
But within moments, her clothes were soaked through by the heavy rain, instantly accentuating her graceful figure, her curves clearly visible.
Yet there was still a stretch of road from here to the entrance of her building, and she would have to keep braving the rain.
Zhao Linye's gaze shifted. Secretary Cheng braved the rain to get out of the car, retrieved a black umbrella from the trunk, and handed it to her: "Miss Chen, take care."
When he returned to the car, his clothes were already soaked through.
This rain was really heavy!
"Thank you, Chairman Zhao. And the umbrella?"
"No need to return it."
Zhao Linye said, his gaze sweeping over her thin, rain-soaked figure. The half-lowered window rolled up, concealing his slightly darkened expression.